Rotary switch



ec., M w23., LWGM A. NELSON A ROTARY SWITCH Filed Sept. 29 l92l a filmt.

` 3a rotary elements.

Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES- ABVID NELSON, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.`

ROTARY SWITCH.

Application filed September 29, 1921. Serial No. 504,105.

To all whom t may Gomera:

Be it known that I, Anvil) NELSON, a citi.- zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illit nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotar Switches, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to improvements in I switches of the rotary type particularly adapted though not necessarily limited in its use with spot lights, and one ofthe objects of the same is to improve and simplify the fconstruction of this type of switch and at the same time 'provide a .switch which will be compact and comparatively thin in construction so that the samemay be employed with what is known as double shell lamps.

To the attainment ofthese ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists inv the features of novelty, in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the ac- 26 companying drawing illustrating this invention and in which- Figure 1 is a view inside elevation, partly broken away, of a spot light having a switch constructed in accordance with the principles 3o of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the switch.

Figure 3 is a sectional view takenon line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail elevation of one of the Figure 5 is a detail perspective view ofthe metallic element which is connected with the rotary element.

Figure 6 is a, rear elevation of the rotary 4o elements.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawingu the numeral 10 desi nates generally a spot light the inner she l 11 of which is spaced from the outer shell in the usual manner.

The switch is adapted to be connected with the outer shell and is disposed in -the space between the two shel1s.

l The switch consists essentially of, a base 12 constructed of any suitable insulating material and the base is of a comparatively thin construction, portions of the base beingl Shaped to form laterally projecting lugs 13.

Mounted in the base 12 and for a forward'.

displacement with respect to the spindle 14 preferably by means of a fastening screw 19 which passes into a threaded opening 20 in f the -end of the spindle, the head of the bolt 19 resting against the outerrace of the disc 16. The disc 16 is provided in its periphery with recessesl 21 opening therethrough and secured to one face or the disc 16 isa metallic element 22 which is provided with an aperture 23 l'therethrough and through which 'aperture 23 the spindle lll passes. This aperture 23 is of a diameter considerably greater than the external diameter of the spindle 14 so that the metallic element 22 will be held out of electrical connection with the spindle 14. The element 22 is rovided with laterally projectilg lugs 24 w ich 85 are shaped to form outwar y opening recesses 25 and the recesses 21 in the element 16 are of the same Ishape' as the lugs 24- so that when the element 22 is placed against the face Iof thedisc 16 the lugs 24 will be tightly seated in thefrecesses 21 and serve as' a means for holding the plate or element connected with the dise 16. The disc 16 1s also provided with additional recesses 26- opening throu h the periphery thereof and intermediate t e recesses 21, for a purpose to 'be hereinafter set forth. f

The other end of the spindle 14 projects for a considerable distance be ond the oppositev face of the base 12 an throughan. aperture in the outer shell of the spot` light. This apertureis of a diameter suilicient to permit the spindle to pass therethrough and to rotate freely therein. An outwardly projecting ange 27 encompasses the opening 105 in the outer shell of the lamp and this flange vwith the end of the spindle.

Iiiterposed between the base 12 of the switch and the outer shell of the spot light 10 is a spacing member 31 which may be of any desired size and configuration but is of a sizev so that it will not extend under the projections 13 of the base 12. The switch is secured in position ypreferably by means of fastening screws 32whicli pass through the outer shell of the spot light 10 and are threaded into the spacing member 31, the latter being secured to the base 12 preferably by means of fastening devices 33.

The lugs 24 of the element 22 form contacts on opposite faces of the rotary element 16 and co-operatingwith these lu 24 are spring contact'` members 34 the free extremities of which are preferably shaped to form curved portions 35 adapted to enter v the seats 25 in the lugs 24 when the switch `is rotated an-d are also adapted to be u nseated from the seats 25 on the further rotation ofthev disc 16 and when the portions y of the contacts 34 ai'e unseated from the recesses 25 the portions 35 will ride about the periphery of the disc 16 until the recesses 26 are presented to the portions 35.0f Y

the contacts 34 at which time the said portions will enter the recess 26 to hold Ithe switch in an inoperative position.

The outer faces of the lugs 24 coincide with the periphery ofthe zdisc or element 16 so that no shoulders will be formed between the parts and will permit the disc to be freely rotated by the handle 29.

These contacts 34. may be of any desired size and configuration and may be secured Vin position in any suitable manner but are preferably formed with a base portion 36, the edges 37 of which are shaped to form spaced lflanges projecting laterally from one face of the base. The distance between the flanges 37 is slightly greater than the width of the projections 13 on the base 12 so that when the base 36 of the contacts 34 are placed against the projections 13 the flanges 37 will stand adjacent the sides of the projection and a fastening screw 38.passes through the base 36 of the contacts 34 and has threaded engagement with the projections 13. rI hese fastening screws 38 serve as binding or anchor posts for the conductor ing down of the screw or binding post 38 into the projection 13 to fasten the contacts 34 and the conductor wires 39 will prevent the end of the screw or binding post 38 from contacting with the outer shell of the light 10 and if such contact were made wouldA cause a short circuit.

The flanges 37 on the face 38 of the contacts 34 engaging over the sides of the projections 13 serve as a means for preventing displacement of the contacts 34 when the screws or binding posts: 38 are loosened to permit the attaching or detaching of the end of the conductor wires 39.

It will b e manifest that with this form of switch the parts will be compactly arranged and is of a substantially thin construction so as to permit the switch to be installed in a comparatively small space. By rotating the handle 29 the contacts 24 and 35 will be brought intoand out ofy engagement with each other to make or break the circuit and when the circuit is broken the recesses 26 receive the portions 35 of the contacts 34 to limit the rotation of the element 16 and also holds the element in an inoperative position. i

The switch may be readily removed b removing the screw 30 and then the hand e 29 after which the screws 32 may be removed and the spindle can be drawn through the lamp shell.

- InFigure 7 is shown a modified form of the rotary element in which the disc corresponding with the element 16 is composed of two members 4() having a metallic clement 41 interposed therebetween and the element 4l is provided with laterally projecting lugs 42-43 on opposite sides thereof similar to the lugs 24 of the element 22 and these lugs 42-43 are seated in the recesses in the periphery of the elements 40 similar to the recesses 21 in the element 16.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it isto be understood that various changes ma be made in the details of construction and7 in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention. What is claimed as new is 1. A rotary switch embodying a base of insulating material, a rotary spindle mounted in the base and projecting beyond one ico" wardly rotatable disc of insulating material connectedwith the spindle and having recesses -in its periphery, a metallic element connected with the said disc and out of electrical connection with the spindle, laterally projecting recessed lugs carried by the said element, said lugs being seated in the notches in the periphery of the disc and rotatable with the disc, and spring terminals contill of the baseop osite to that face beyond which the spin le projects and adapted to enter the recesses in the said lugs when the disc is rotated in either direction.

2f. A rotary switch embodying a base of vinsulating material, a rotary spindle mounted in the base, a forwardly and backwardly rotatable disc of insulating material connected with the spindle adjacent 'one face ol the said base and having recesses in its periphery, a metallic element connected with the said'disc and out of electrical connection with the spindle, laterally projecting recessed lugs carried by the said element, said lugs bein seated in the notches in the periphery of the disc and rotatable with the disc, the tree end of the spindle projecting beyond the other face of the base, and spring terminals connected with the said base on the race opposite to the face from which the spindle projects and adapted to enter the recesses in the said lugs when the disc is rotated in either direction, the outer faces of the body of the said lugs coinciding with the periphery of the said disc.

3. A rotary switch embodying a base of insulating material, a rotary spindle mounted in the base and projecting beyond one lace ci the base, a forwardly and backwardly rotatably disc of insulating material connected with the spindle adjacent one face ol the base and having recesses in its periphery, a metallic element connected with the said' disc and out of electrical connection with the spindle, laterally projecting recessed lugs carried by the said element, said lugs being seated in the notches in the peripher or the disc and rotatable with the isc, an `spring terminals connected with that lace of the said base op osite to the tace beyond which the tree en of the spindie extends and adapted toenter the recesses in the said lugs when the disc is rotated in either direction.- there being additional recesses in the periphery voit the disc intermediate the rst recited recesses and adapted to receive the said terminals.

l. .di rotary switch embodying a base, a. forwardly and backwardly rotatable spindle' mounted upon said base and rojecting beyond one lace thereof whereby t e. spindle may be rotated, a disc of insulating material connected with the spindle or rotation therewith and adjacent the opposite face of the base, a metallic element carried with the disc and having spaced terminal engaging portions, spring terminals mounted upon the baseand on that face adjacent which the disc is located and adapted to engage said portions when the disc is rotated in either direction, fastenin j devices for securing the said terminals to t e base, a support, means for securing the base to the support and spacing means interposed between the saidbase and the said sup rt whereby the said fastening devices willobe prevented' from contacting with the said support.

5. A. rotary switch embodying a base, a :forwardly andv backwardly rotatable spindle mounted u on the base and projecting be` yond one ace thereof whereby the spindle may be rotated, a disc of insulating material connected with the spindle for rotation Vtherewith and adjacent the opposite tace ol the said base, contacts carried by the disc, contact terminals co-operating with the said contacts, a support having an aperture therethrough, means for securing the base to the support, said spindle projecting through the aperture, an outwardly project ing dange on the support encompassing the aperture, and a handle connected with the end of the spindle for rotating it, the lower end of the handle having a recess to receive the said flange to form a water tight joint.

6. A rotary switch embodying a body, a spindle journaled therein, a disc of insulating material carried by the spindle, spaced contacts arranged about the periphery ot the disc, portions of the body being shaped to foirn projections, contact terminals coo rating with the said contacts, portions o the said terminals being shaped to lorm langes adapted to engage over the respective said projections, and terminal screws for fastening the terminals upon the body, said danges serving to prevent displacement o the terminals when the said screws are loosened.

7. A rotary switch element embodying a disc or insulating material having recesses opening through its periphery, a spindle connected with the disc for rotating 1t forwardly and backwardly, a metallic element, and laterally projecting lugs connected with the said metallic element, said lugs being seated in the said recesses and forming spaced contacts about the periphery of the disc, the said metallic element being out of electrical connection with the said spindle, the outer periphery of the said lu coincidinwith the periphery of the sai disc.

8. rotary switch element embodying a disc of insulating materialhaving recesses opening through its periphery, a spindle connected with the disc for rotating 1t forwardly and backwardly, a metallic element, and laterally projecting lugs connected with the said metallic element, said lugs being seated in the said recesses coinciding with the periphery of the disc and forming spaced contacts about the periphery of the disc, the said metallic element being out of electrical connection with the said spindle, said disc having one or more additional recesses opening through its periphery inter- .insulated supporting base adapted to be placed in close proximity to the spot light shell; a spindle journaled in the base, one end of the spindle projecting through an opening in the shell whereby the spindle may be freely rotated forwardly and backwardly, a disc of insulating material secured to the spindle adjacent that face of the base opposite the face adjacent which the said end of the spindle is located, electrical contacts secured to the periphery of n* the disc, and terminals connected with that face of thebase adjacent which the disc is located and adapted to engage said contacts whenA the disc is rotated in either direction.

l0. A substantially Hat and comparatively thin rotary spot light switch embodying an insulated supporting base adapted to be placed in close proximity to the spot light shell, a spindle journaled in the base, one

end of the s indle' rejecting through an opening in t e shelf) whereby the spindle may be freely rotated forwardly and backwardly, a disc of insulating material secured to the spindle adjacent that face of the base opposite the face adjacent which the said end of the spindle is located, electrical contacts secured to the periphery of' the disc, and terminals connected with that face of the base adjacent which the disc is located and adapted to engage said contacts when the disc 1s rotated in either direction, there being recesses in the periphery of the disc intermediate the said contacts adapted to receive the said terminals for yieldingly locking the disc.`

In' testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 27th day of September, A. D. 1921.

ARVID NELSON. 

